Brief case fastener



Feb. 26, 1963 3,078,896

H. ABRAMS BRIEF CASE FASTENER Filed March 15, 1962 INVENTOR 40 #YM/1N /BAMs ATTORNE)l United States Patent ffice 3,078,896 Patented Feb. 26, 1963 3,078,896 BRIEF CASE FASTENER Hyman Abrams, New York, NSY., assigner to Thomases 'z Co., `Iersey City, Nd., a partnership Filed Mar. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 179,951 9 Ciaims. (Cl. 15b-1.6)

The present invention relates generally to improvements in receptacles and it relates, in particular, to an improved receptacle of the hand bag or brief case type which is provided with a hinged closure frame carrying a handle and a latching flap.

In brief cases, hand bags and the like which are provided with closure frames including a pair of mutually hinged, U-shaped closure members, it is the common practice to mount a handle on one of the frame members and to attach one end of a flexible strap to this frame member with the other end of the flap being provided with a latching member which releasably engages a mating latching member attached to the receptacle wall secured with the other frame member. It has been conventional to secure the trailing end of the latching ap either to the receptacle rear wall or to the handle carrying frame member as a consequence of which the strap, upon the opening of the bag, drops into the receptacle opening, interfering with the free access therethrough and requiring frequent flexing thereof. This is not only highly annoying and inconvenient but the repea-ted exing of the strap frequently results in damage thereto and the tearing thereof. It has been suggested to hinge the trailing end of the latching strap to the frame member at a point above the level thereof to permit the free swinging of the strap rearwardly out of registry with the receptacle opening without the necessity of iiexing the strap per se. However, the construction by which this result has 'been accomplished is relatively complicated and appreciably increases the cost of production of the final product. Furthermore, the structure and procedure usually employed in attaching a handle to a brief case are likewise costly so that it has not heretofore been commercially feasible to employ a strap structure of the above vnature in low-priced brief cases, hand bags and the like.

It is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved receptacle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved brief case, hand bag or the like-of the type having a hinged vclosure frame.

Still another object of the present invention is to provvide an improved brief case, hand bag or the like having `a handle-carrying hinged closure frame and a hinged latching strap readily swingable out of registry with the receptacle access opening without liexing the strap.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a brief case, hand bag or the like of the above nature characterized by its simplicity, ruggedness, low cost and ,ease of fabrication and assembly.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following the handle section of still another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational fragmentary view of the handle section of a further embodiment of the present invention.

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of a receptacle comprising a body member including front and rear walls, a pair of `longitudinally spaced handle brackets mounted onk said rear wall and having aligned openings formed therein, a handle member provided With depending side legs having end sections registering with said brackets and having longitudinal bores formed therein in axial alignment with said bracket apertures, a first latch member mounted on said front wall, a flexible strap member having trailing and leading ends, pin elements projecting laterally from the trailing end of said strap and engaging said bracket apertures and said handle bores to secure said handle and said strap to said brackets, and a second latch element carried by the leading end of said strap and adapted to releasably engage said first latch element. The receptacle is advantageously provided with a hinged closure frame of conventional construction and the handle brackets are mounted on the component of the frame member which engages the receptacle rear Wall.

In accordance with a preferred form of the present invention, each of the handle brackets includes a pair of longitudinally-spaced, upstanding posts mounted on a base plate which is secured to the rear wall-engaging frame member by a pair of upset tongues depending from the base plate and registering with openings in the frame member. The handle member is substantially U-shaped, the ends of the side legs being located between corresponding pairs of bracket posts. A longitudinally extending rod has end sections engaging the aligned apertures in the handle legs and bracket posts to `lock the assembly of the handle brackets and rod. The rod has an intermediate, transversely-offset section which is swingably engaged by the crotch section of a channel shaped clamp, the legs of which clamp engage the trailing end of the strap. The structure may be modified by employing a straight coupling rod instead of one of stepped shape, or the unitary rod may be replaced by a pair of suitable shaped rod or pin members which are joined by the clamp member. Furthermore, as an alternative, the trailing section of the strap member may be connected to the rod by forming a loop therein which encircles the rod.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURES l, 2 and 3 thereof, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference numeral 14) generally designates an improved brief case which includes a body member 11 provided with front and rear walls l2 and I3 respectively, and a bottom wall and side gusset Walls in the usual manner. A conventional closure frame member is associated with body member 11 and includes as is well known, a pair of U-Shaped frame members provided with cross-arms la and i6 and depending side legs, the ends of which legs are mutually hinged. Cross-arm 14 of frame 14 is enclosed in a sheath 17 which is sewn to the upper border of the body member rear wall lf3, and frame cross-arm 16 is enclosed in a sheath 1S which is sewn to the upper border of front wall 12. Thus, by opening the closure frame, cross-arms 14 and 16 are transversely spread thereby affording access into the interior of brief case I@ and conversely, upon closing of the closure frame,v cross-arms 14 and 16 are brought into overlapping relationship to close the brief case llt).

Mounted on cross-arm 14 of the rear frame is a pair of longitudinally spaced bracket members 19. Each bracket member 19 includes a 'rectangular base plate 2d over lying the frame arm 14 and a sandwiched layer of sheath 17. A pair of prongs 21 depend fromthe ends of base plate 20 and are integrally formed therewith. These pierce sheath 17 and project through corresponding openings 22 formed in the frame cross-arm 14. Prongs 21 are upset to underlie the underface of frame arm 14, thus tightly securing brackets 19 thereto. Mounted on the base plate 20 of each bracket is a pair of longitudinally spaced upstanding posts 23 having longitudinally aligned apertures 24 formed therein adjacent their upper ends.

A handle member 26 of any suitable construction, substantially of U-shaped configuration, including a pair of depending side legs 27 terminating in fiat ended vhub sections 28 and having longitudinally aligned bores 29 formed therein is provided. The handle hub sections 28 are located between corresponding pairs of bracket posts 23, handle bores 29 being in axial alignment with post apertures 24. A coupling rod 30 includes longitudinally aligned pivot-pin-defining end sections 32 and an intermediate longitudinally extending section 33 transversely offset relative to the end sections 32 and joined thereto by transverse arms 34. Coupling rod end sections 32 register with corresponding handle bores 29 and post apertures 24 so that when brackets 19 are attached to frame arm 14, the assembly of handle 26, rod 3f! and brackets 19 is locked, thereby permitting the free swinging of handle 26 and of offset rod section 33.

A channel-shaped clamp member 36 is provided with an enlarged crotch section 37 which encircles intermediate section 33 of rod 30 to permit the free swinging of clamp member 36. A pair of longitudinally extending parallel arms 38 project from the crotch section 37, the underarm being provided with upstanding pointed prongs 39. An elongated iiexible strap or band member 40 formed of leather,rthermoplastic material, or other suitable material is of substantially rectangular shape with slightly converging side edgesV and includes a trailing end 41 which is tightly embraced by clamp arms 38 and securely atiixed thereto by prongs 39 piercing trailing end 41 of the strap member. A conventional male latch member 42 is affixed to the leading end of strap member 40 and includes a channel shaped clamp member provided with opposing plate legs 43 which embrace the leading end of the flap member 40, the underplate having mounted thereon the usual male latch element in the form of an eye or loop member. Cooperating with male latch member 42 is a conventional female latch member 44 provided with one or more slots adapted to receive the female latch element. Latch member 44 is provided with a slidable locking tongue normally registering with the female latch opening and spring-urged thereto and releasably shiftable out of registry with the opening by means of a coupled finger piece 46. Latch member 44 may be provided with a locking mechanism 47, as is well known. d

In employing the above-described improved brief case 10, when the case is in closed position, latch `members 42 and 44 are in releasable interengagement as illustrated in FIGURE l ofthe drawing. In opening the brief case 10, finger piece 46 is depressed thereby to release latch element 42, and strap 40, carrying latch member 42, is swung with handle member 26 to a rearwardly directed position so as to be free of the access opening to the interior of brief case 10. It should be noted that no flexing whatsoever of the strap 40 is required to swing it to a retracted position. Furthermore, strap member 40 can be at least partially retracted merely by swinging rod 3f) to bring the intermediate section 33 thereof to its rearmost position, carrying strap member 40 a corresponding distance rearwardly. It is important to note that the entire assembly of brackets 19, handle 26 and strap 40 requires no rivets, rivetting or similar devices or operations. VAs a consequence, the assembling of the handle, brackets and latching devices is of the greatest simplicity and of low cost.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 of the drawing, which illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, the only difference between the instant embodiment and that first described resides in the manner of connecting the trailing end of the strap member to the coupling rod. In the embodiment of FIGURE 4 the coupling clamp 36 is omitted and in place thereof the trailing section of the latching strap 48 is looped about the transversely offset intermediate section 49 of the coupling rod and is secured thereon by means of stitching 50 to strap 48 along a line leading the loop section of said strap 48. Thus, the strap 48 is freely hinged to rod section 49 in the absence of a coupling clamp 36, as in FIGURES l, 2 and 3.

In FIGURE 5 of the drawing, there is illustrated still another embodiment of the present invention, differing from that first described primarily in the substitution of a pair of hinge elements for rod 30. Specifically, there is provided a clamp member 51 similar in configuration to clamp member 36 previously described, clamp member 51 engaging the trailing end of a flexible coupling strap 52. A pair of hinge elements 53 are disposed at opposite ends of the crotch section 54 of clamp member 51, each of pin members 53 including longitudinally projecting transversely offset sections 56 and 57 respectively, the inner ends of which are joined by a connecting intermediate transversesection 58. Hinge section 56 of each hinge element 53 registers with aligned openings formed in the handle bracket posts 59 and longitudinal bores 60 formed in the corresponding handle legs 61. It should be noted that the handle brackets and handle are of a structure similar to that first described. The opposite hinge sections 57 register with the clamp crotch section 54 and each extends for less than half the length thereof. The hinge sections 57 may be affixed to theclamp crotch 54 or may be freely rotatable therein.4 In the latter case, the longitudinal movement available at the hinge members 53 should be less than the length of the registry of the hinge section 57 in crotch 54 and the extension of the hinge section 56 beyond the coresponding outer bracket posts 59. The operation of the last described embodiment is similar to that first described and requires no further explanation. l

Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGURE 6 of the drawing and differs from that first described only in that the stepped rod 30 is replaced by a linear rod 65. The rod 65 is in axial registry with the apertures in the bracket posts 66 and the aligned bores in the handle legs 67. In order to lock the assembly, it is necessary, however, by reason of the absence of the step sections as 34, 58 to upset the ends of rod 65, as at 68, so that they have at least one transverse dimension greater than the corresponding dimension of the apertures in posts 66.

While there has been described and illustrated preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. A receptacle Acomprising a body member including front and rear walls, a closure frame including a pair of mutually hinged first and second frame members secured to said front and rear walls respectively, a pair of longitudinally spaced handle brackets mounted on said second frame member and having aligned apertures formed therein, a handle member provided with side legs having end sections registering with said brackets and having longitudinal bores formed therein in axial alignment with said bracket apertures, a first latch member mounted on said front wall, a flexible strap member having trailing and leading ends, pin elements projecting laterally from said strap trailing end and engaging said bracket apertures and said handle bores to secure said handle and said strap to said brackets, and a second latch element carried by said strap leading end and adapted to releasably engage said first latch element. s

2. The receptacle of claim l wherein each of said handie brackets includes a pair of longitudinally spaced up.

standing posts having aligned apertures formed therein, the end sections of corresponding handle side legs being embraced by respective pairs of said bracket posts, said pin elements engaging said aligned apertures.

3. A receptacle comprising a body member including front and rear walls, a closure frame including a pair of mutually hinged tirst and second frame members secured to said front and rear walls respectively, a pair of longitudinally spaced handle brackets mounted on said second frame member and having aligned apertures formed there in, a handle member provided with side legs having end sections registering with said brackets and having longitudinal bores formed therein in axial alignment with said bracket apertures, a first latch member mounted on said Ifront wall, a longitudinally extending rod extending between said brackets and engaging said aligned apertures and bores, a flexible strap member having a trailing end hinged to said rod between said brackets and a leading end, and a second latch element carried by said strap leading end and adapted to releasably engage said first latch element.

4. The receptacle of claim 3 wherein said longitudinally extending rod includes longitudinally aligned end sections engaging said aligned apertures and bores and an intermediate section transversely offset relative to said end sections, said strap trailing end being hinged to said intermediate section.

5. The receptacle of claim 3 including a longitudinally extending clamping channel comprising a crotch section swingably engaging said rod and a pair of side legs clamped to said strap trailing end.

v6. The receptacle of claim 3 wherein said strap trailing end is looped about said rod and the free end thereof is secured to said strap at a point leading said trailing end.

7. A receptacle comprising a body member including front and rear walls, a closure frame including a pair of mutually hinged lirst and second frame members secured to said front and rear walls respectively, a pair of longitudinally spaced handle brackets mounted on said second frame member and having aligned apertures formed therein, a handle member provided with side legs having end sections registering with said brackets and having longitudinal bores formed therein in axial alignment with said bracket apertures, a first latch member mounted on said front wall, a clamping channel extending longitudinally between said bracket and including a crotch section and side legs, pin elements engaged by and projecting longitudinally from said crotch Asection and engaging said bracket apertures and said handle bores, a flexible strap member having a trailing end clamped between said channel side legs and a leading end, and a second latch element carried by said strap leading end and adapted to releasably engage said first latch element.

8. The receptacle of claim 7 wherein the sections of said pins registering with said clamp crotch are transversely offset relative to the sections thereof engaging said bracket apertures and handle bores.

9. A receptacle comprising a body member including front and rear walls, a pair of longitudinally spaced handle brackets mounted on said rear wall and having aligned openings formed therein, a handle member pro vided with side legs having end sections registering with said brackets and having longitudinal bores formed therein in axial alignment with said bracket apertures, a rst latch member mounted on said front wall, a exible strap member having trailing and leading ends, pin elements projecting laterally from said flap member trailing end and engaging -said bracket apertures and said handle bores to secu-re said handle and said ap member to said brackets, and a second latch element carried by said strap leading end and adapted to releasably engage said rst latch element.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,409,936 Falkiner Mar. 21, 1922 2,859,787 Perlin Nov. 11, 1958 310211883 -f--f-H-f- 

1. A RECEPTACLE COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER INCLUDING FRONT AND REAR WALLS, A CLOSURE FRAME INCLUDING A PAIR OF MUTUALLY HINGED FIRST AND SECOND FRAME MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID FRONT AND REAR WALLS RESPECTIVELY, A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED HANDLE BRACKETS MOUNTED ON SAID SECOND FRAME MEMBER AND HAVING ALIGNED APERTURES FORMED THEREIN, A HANDLE MEMBER PROVIDED WITH SIDE LEGS HAVING END SECTIONS REGISTERING WITH SAID BRACKETS AND HAVING LONGITUDINAL BORES FORMED THEREIN IN AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID BRACKET APERTURES, A FIRST LATCH MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID FRONT WALL, A FLEXIBLE STRAP MEMBER HAVING TRAILING AND LEADING ENDS, PIN ELEMENTS PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM SAID STRAP TRAILING END AND ENGAGING SAID BRACKET APERTURES AND SAID HANDLE BORES TO SECURE SAID HANDLE AND SAID STRAP TO SAID BRACKETS, AND A SECOND LATCH ELEMENT CARRIED BY SAID STRAP LEADING END AND ADAPTED TO RELEASABLY ENGAGE SAID FIRST LATCH ELEMENT. 